US northern border agents capture Chinese alien, surge of illegal immigrants as arrests soar in one state
Chinese and Central American illegal immigrants were among those arrested by border patrol in Maine in recent operations targeting unlawfully present migrants.
After President Donald Trump cracked down on illegal immigrant crossings at the U.S. southern border with Mexico, Border Patrol agents in the North are facing a flurry of attempted crossings.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in Houlton, Maine said on May 2 that in the previous 10 days, it had conducted targeted enforcement operations that netted 39 illegal immigrant captures, according to a news release.
Foreign nationals from Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and China were arrested during the recent operations.
According to the immigration officials, the agency has already captured more illegal immigrants in Maine this year than it did in all of 2024.
“The United States Border Patrol will continue ongoing operations to target criminal aliens for arrest, prosecution, and removal proceedings as appropriate.” Houlton Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent Craig Shepley said in a statement. “All of these efforts are for the safety and security for the State of Maine and the U.S. as a whole.”
Some of the arrestees have prior criminal records, including crimes like assault and battery on a family member, criminal possession of a weapon and theft, officials said.
One of the illegal immigrants was charged with illegal re-entry into the United States, a felony that carries up to two years in prison and possible enhancements if the suspect was previously removed after criminal convictions, according to the Department of Justice.
CBP warned of consequences for other illegal immigrants who might be considering crossing from the north.
“The security and integrity of our nation’s borders is the primary objective of the United States Border Patrol, and the agency will utilize all means at its disposal to achieve this end,” the release said. “If you are found to be in the United States illegally or are operating within the framework of an illegal smuggling operation, you will be caught, and consequences will be delivered.”
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<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/georges-st-pierre-poses-with-his-new-hot-sauce.jpg?id=60160334&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=97%2C0%2C98%2C0"/><br/><br/><p>Even in retirement, Georges St-Pierre doesn't slow down.</p><p><span></span>Now 43, the UFC Hall of Famer still calls Quebec home. And when he's not in the gym or doing mid-winter cold plunges in his backyard (as seen on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DEiJTozPB33/?hl=en" target="_blank">social media</a>), he's exploring <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/montreal-restaurants" target="_blank">Montreal's food scene</a> and building new projects.</p><p>"I like to stay busy, to keep my brain stimulated," St-Pierre told MTL Blog in an interview ahead of a <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/ufc-315-montreal-title-fights" target="_blank">major UFC event in the city</a>. "If you retire and have nothing going on, you'll go crazy."</p><p>His latest project? A small-batch Canadian hot sauce collab with <a href="https://lordshotsauce.co/" target="_blank">Lord's Hot Sauce</a> — and it's got GSP's signature all over it.</p><p>"So people that know me know I like my food spicy," he told MTL Blog. "I like spicy, but I like a little bit of sweetness too."</p><p>The result of months of testing and tweaking is two bottles: RUSH, a sweeter, more accessible sauce, and K.O., a fiery blend that GSP says is "only for the real fans of spicy food."</p><p>"It's as strong as it can get when it's natural," he said. "Of course you can go even hotter, but that's because they add chemicals. We don't have chemicals. It's all local, it's all natural — no GMOs. It's made for us, by us."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJahxiktCMT/?hl=en" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DJahxiktCMT/?hl=en" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>The sauces are fermented in Canadian oak barrels and feature all-natural ingredients — including Carolina Reapers in the K.O. and Quebec maple syrup in the RUSH. They officially launched in April, with collector's editions (and signed bottles) available online.</p><p>While the project got started long before people jumped aboard the "buy Canadian" movement (following <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/tariffs" target="_blank">heavy tariffs from down south</a>), the MMA legend agrees that the product's launch came at a good time. </p><p> "It's sort of the spirit that is going on, and we're very proud that it's a local product from local people."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIeaCcqxBhx/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DIeaCcqxBhx/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>As for what he puts it on? "Chicken, oysters, even tourtière," he said. "There's tons of it."</p><p><span></span>It's not his only post-fight project. St-Pierre, who has appeared in a half-dozen feature films in the past few years, is also behind a new Montreal-based clothing brand called "<a href="https://stillstandingstrong.com/" target="_blank">Still Standing Strong</a>." Officially launching this Friday, May 10, at the Vogue Hotel, the line includes streetwear and athletic apparel for all body types, and part of the proceeds go to the <a href="https://www.gspofficial.com/gsp-foundation" target="_blank">Georges St-Pierre Foundation</a>, which aims to reduce bullying and encourage youth participation in sports.</p><p>"Still Standing Strong is to pay tribute to the warriors," he said. "And I don't just mean fighters. I mean single moms, people who work hard. It's made for everybody, not just athletes."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXLi3fxg8V/?img_index=1" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DCXLi3fxg8V/?img_index=1" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>That idea of strength through support is something GSP has carried from the octagon into business. "Even though I was by myself when I fought, I had a team behind me," he said. "Same thing in business. You're just as good as your team."</p><p>Despite retiring from the UFC back in 2019 (With 26-2-0 record), St-Pierre still plays a hands-on role in the MMA world too. He'll be cage-side this Saturday for UFC 315 in Montreal, cornering fellow Quebecer Aiemann Zahabi in a major bout against MMA legend Jose Aldo. "If [Zahabi] wins, he's going to be a serious contender for the title," GSP said. "I'm proud to be in his corner."</p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBjcn8FR17b/?hl=en" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DBjcn8FR17b/?hl=en" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a>
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</blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script><p>But outside the arena, you'll find GSP enjoying some very un-fighter guilty pleasures.</p><p>"You'd be surprised. I eat everything. Chocolate, ice cream. I love it," he laughed. "I like Dairy Queen. I'm very easy." Though he says the best pistachio gelato he's ever had is from Forte dei Marmi in Florida.</p><p>Back in Montreal, he names Ferreira Café as a go-to for seafood spot and Mirela's near Saint-Isidore — where he grew up — as a hidden gem steakhouse.</p><p>With such a full plate (both literally and figuratively), these days, the champ's motto is pretty simple: "Stay motivated, hungry, and happy. Oh, and most importantly — stay healthy."</p>